New guy, looking to buy first Porsche!

[Perfectlap]

Your biggest problem is not the IMS. It's the care and maintenance the previous owner put into the car. If you don't have a lot of money then you especially need a car with low miles or a car with a long list of repairs that have already been done. Be very skeptical of cars near or over 60k miles that are sold as "needs nothing" and have only had a few minor repairs. The thing to keep in mind is that these generation of Porsches are reliable but they're not durable if they are subjected to extreme heat or cold driving. Look for cars from mild year round climates like Southern California and from an owner who was proactive about repairs and maintenance. Stay away from cars that went more than a year without an oil change. Make sure the shocks are in good order a suspension overhaul on these cars can be very costly even at an independent mechanic, $3-4k in parts alone.